Cork beaches reopen as E.coli reaches safe levels
Meanwhile, bathers in Galway were waiting for further tests at Grattan Beach, near Mutton Island, which was closed earlier this week because of excessive E.coli bacteria.
The decision to reopen the Cork beaches was taken yesterday after the county council published another batch of test results — the second within 24 hours.
Last week, Youghal’s Front Strand, Claycastle, and Redbarn beaches were closed because tests showed levels of E.coli in bathing water breached EU limits of 2,000 particles of E.coli in 100ml of water.
Beaches at Garryvoe, Garretstown, Oysterhaven, and Coolmaine were also shut.
Oysterhaven had over six times the permitted level of the bacteria at 12,033, while Fort Strand was nearly four times over the limit.
Tests at Oysterhaven on Monday, and published on Thursday, showed a fall to 175 and a test there on Wednesday, published yesterday, showed a fall to 75.
Similar significant decre-ases were recorded at the other affected beaches.
The highest levels from last Wednesday’s tests were 161 at Redbarn, Youghal’s Blue Flag beach.
This was still well below the permitted level, and a major decrease from the 2,841 recorded last week.
“Following agreement with the HSE, the ‘no swimming’ advisory notices are being taken down at all the beaches. The Blue Flags for Redbarn, Garryvoe, and Garretstown can be hoisted again as advised by An Taisce,” said a county council spokesman.
The mayor of Co Cork, Barbara Murray, said the county’s main bathing areas were normally tested every fortnight by the council.
“If we get more adverse weather, which was the cause of this, we may have to test bating water even more,” said Ms Murray.
Significant rainfall is believed to have washed slurry containing the E.coli off the land and into the sea.
Raw sewage is still being pumped into Youghal Bay and it could not escape out to sea, like the land run-off, because of spring tides and south-easterly winds.
As weather conditions became more favourable, the E.coli washed out to sea.
Ms Murray said the council would have been happy to reopen the beaches on Thursday, when the second batch of tests showed all seven beaches were within E.coli guidelines. She said the HSE had wanted to wait for the results of the latest tests, which were published yesterday.
“I knew the more recent test results would have been better and it’s fantastic news,” she said.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
